Douglas County’s unemployment rate increased in January as claims for jobless benefits exceeded the number seen in the same month of 2012, the Georgia Department of Labor reported.

The county’s rate rose from 8.8 percent in December to 9.2 percent in January, according to the labor department’s monthly “Georgia Labor Force Estimates” report for residents ages 16 and older.

The rate grew as the number of employed residents dropped by 253 — from 63,428 to 63,175. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed residents grew by 246 — from 6,157 to 6,403, labor department analyst Corey L. Smith said.

Initial claims for jobless benefits increased by 213 in the county as filings rose from 632 in December to 845 in January — above the number recorded in January 2012 when 759 filed for benefits, Smith reported.

“Industries where jobless filings increased the most from December to January included retail trade, manufacturing, administrative and support services, and construction,” Smith said.

However, January’s rate was below the jobless rate of 9.9 percent in January 2012.

Douglas County’s rate was higher than neighboring counties Cobb, which had a jobless rate of 7.8 percent, and Paulding at 8.2 percent.

However, it was lower than other neighboring counties, including Fulton, which had a 9.4 percent rate; and Carroll, which saw its rate shoot up more than 2 percent to 11.3 percent in January.

Douglas County’s rate also exceeded the average of the 28-county metro Atlanta area, which was 8.7 percent in January. Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 6.6 percent, while metro Dalton and the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region in central Georgia tied for the highest at 11.9 percent.

The statewide unemployment rate for January was 8.7 percent, while the national rate was 7.9 percent.

A separate report on Georgia cities’ unemployment rates showed Douglasville at 11.0 percent in January, up from 10.1 percent in December. Alpharetta in north Fulton County recorded the lowest rate at 6.4 percent and Dalton in north Georgia had the highest rate at 13.9 percent. Neighboring East Point in south Fulton County recorded a rate of 13.0 percent.

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